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Do You Know Your Program Guidelines?

The following chart outlines the annual minimum drug and alcohol random testing rates established within DOT Agencies and the USCG for 2009.

 Reasons For Drug Testing in the Workplace

• Pre-Employment Test-Prior to any employee performing safety-sensitive duties, the employer must ensure that the employee has had a drug test and that a negative test result has been received.  This also applies to a person who has been transferred into a safety sensitive function. Ex:  warehouse worker who is transferring to a position as a driver of a commercial motor vehicle.
• Random Test-A random selection process precludes an employer from attempting to pre-select a particular employee for a drug test.  Using a computerized selection process, one or more individuals from all the employees included in the employer's workplace drug testing program.
• Reasonable Suspicion/Cause Test-This test is performed when an employer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an employee's behavior or appearance may indicate alcohol or drug use.
• Post Accident Test-An employee is required to provide a specimen after being involved in an accident or incident on the job.  The results of such a test may provide evidence as to the cause of the accident or incident.
• Return To Duty Test-An employee is required to provide a specimen before returning to a safety sensitive duties to ensure that the employee is drug-free.
• Follow-up Test-This test is conducted following an employee's return to duty after a positive, adulterated or substituted test result. Follow up tests are unannounced with a minimum of 6 tests in the first 12 months.